Thursday, May 26, 2011

I am OBSSESSED with pictures!!!I have practiced some photography for years now and I love pictures.I love filling my home with pictures of family, and friends, and our PETS :)My husband does not agree :)He thinks there's "too much stuff on the wall"which I tend to agree with.. But hey, It feels like home...MY HOME, OUR HOME...

I have ALWALYS wanted to fill this certain wall in our "office" with all our family pictures...It wasn't flying with the hubby,U-N-T-I-L.......

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

I love to write the way I talk (not speak, TOO PROPER)
I love to let my fingers type whatever I would say in the actual moment.

So, really when I post a song, or break off into quotes from a movie, that is REALLY how I think.
That is exactly what came to my mind that very second :)

But when it comes to writing something emotional or maybe even a story, I don't have the words. Some people can so elloquently tell a story or describe things as if you are there, without boring you with all the irrelevant details. I on the other hand don't have that ability.

But I wanted to share these details of my little helper because they truly have AMAZED, AND TOUCHED MY HEART, SOOO dearly.

Things that I have been teaching her since the day she was born have come back
FULL CIRCLE
(and when it does, my heart melts)

Scenario 1:
You fell asleep in our bed while watching your new favorite movie, DUMBO
[we let you stay, because we REALLY DO LOVE having you cuddle beside us...even though you are constantly kneading your feet in our back and trying to tuck them under us]
In the middle of the night you began coughing, like you had a tickle in your throat; I rolled over to check on you,

AND YOU WERE COVERING YOUR MOUTH WHILE YOU WERE COUGHING,

GOOD GIRL,"Cover your mouth when you cough"

but really?? I would spare you the lecture while your sleeping :)!

Scenario 2:

I was bathing ﻿you,

[YOU LOVE BA-TIME, you are Soo proud these days to lay down on your back in the water :)]

You were really excited and stood up abuptly hitting the faucet with your shoulder....{I KNOW IT HAD TO HURT}

INSTEAD OF BURSTING INTO TEARS, LIKE I THOUGHT YOU SURELY WOULD'VE

(I would've) YOU TURNED TO ME AND SAID...

"Ooh {deep breath}, Ooh {deep breath},

TOUGH!"

I have been telling you that everytime you fall or bump something..."IT's ok baby, take a deep breath, YOU'RE TOUGH, TOUGH" while I hold and cuddle you.

Scenario 3:

Every night since you were born I have sang to you. When I started trying to get you to "go to sleep on your own" incorporating different methods, I decided to stick to 2 songs. I would sing one the whole way through and the other, a short lullaby, would repeat exaclty 3 times and then lay you down and leave the room. (IT WORKED :))

After you turned 2 we removed the rails of your crib and I would semi-lay next to you; I added a prayer "routine" to our song list, praying for EVERYONE we could think of :)﻿

One night I dozed off and you turned to MOMMY, tapped me on the face,

AND BEGAN SINGING..."HOSANNA, HOSANNAAAAA, HOSANNA, HOSANNA"...

(the first song on the list)

My eyes filled with tears of joy..

YOU REMEMEBER!!

I sang you to sleep.

A few months later...

while laying down, about to fall asleep, (I cut the songs down to 1 cuz you PRAY FOR EVERYTHING)

you sang to me...

"WAYWA, WAYWA GO TO SLEEP, COZE YOUR EYES N DREAM OF ME...

I WANT DAT' ONE MOMMY"

OH, it makes me melt.. I always thought of the day that you would sing back to me..:)

Scenario 3.5:

You have the sweetest heart..
You pray for everyone...
You remember all of your friends at school, all your teachers, and the sisters' too.
You have a VERY special place in your heart for a little girl named Isabella who you always pray for but I didn't know. I asked your teacher who she was and she said that you ALWAYS protect her...(warmed my heart knowing you knew to pray especially for her too)

You will never leave someone out!

If we stop short, a few seconds will go by while you lay there quietly and then say, "Mrs. Heidi Mom" or "Uncle Bill!" (you are always SOO EXCITED to say his name when we pray)

You're Gigi says you're a SOULWINNER...I am excited to see your (God's) LOVE in FULL BLOOM!

Scenario 4:

Everytime time you have an "OWIE" we will put our hands over it and pray "Dear Jesus, please help the Owie get better" or "Dear Jesus, please help the owie not hurt anymore" and seal it with a kiss.

We have seen and heard you pray for your own owies recently while you are playing and not suspecting we are listening. (This let's us know you lean on Him and trust Him in helping you)

The other day we were driving and you were upset that we were leaving a place that you wanted to stay and play.

Daddy told you, "My tummy hurts Waywa, I wanna go home" in a quiet moment after that we hear you in the back seat....

"Tan' too Jesus, for my daddy's tummy feel better"

His eyes filled with tears.

It is such an AMAZING BLESSING to have a child that exhibits God's love each and everyday. Most times we have to look for it or it takes an organization to show it on a public level. Children are so innocent and impressionable and I can only pray that each and every day we teach our daughter to continue to exhibit these qualities to make this world a better place. (especially covering her mouth when she coughs, LOL

{even though you should cough into your shoulder/bicep})

The things that have been coming "FULL CIRCLE" with her only make me want to try that much harder to give her all the necessary tools to be an AMAZING WOMAN..

LONGEST POST EVER!! BUT I AM GLAD I GOT TO OFFICIALLY DOCUMENT MY THOUGHTS ON THESE EVENTS :)

Friday, May 20, 2011

THIS IS HOW WE DO IT, IT'S FRIDAY NIGHT AND I FEEL ALRIGHT,THE PAR-TAY HERE ON THIS WEBSITE....(SILLY)

Isn't that song so catchy?I mean really...EVERYONE KNOWS THAT SONG!!

Hope you're week was AMAZING :) Mine was awesome, FO-SHIZZLE!!We have a wellness group at work and we practice everything from yoga, to P90x to insanity, to ZUMBA..I LOVE IT!!

This week we started running every morning ( I ABSOLUTELY HATE RUNNING) and acutally found it to be very refreshing...I work downtown and if you know anything about SAN ANTONIO...We have THE RIVERWALK.On most occasions I would claim it to be "TOURIST-Y", and wouldn't hang around it much;but we have the privilige to use it as our running trail. :)

Yup, a Lucky Girl indeed!

YA', IT IS GORGEOUS.. and helps take away the atrocious amount of running that remains ahead of me...

On to the point of this post...These are the items that I keep in my pantry {AT ALL TIMES} and I have an endless amount of meals that I can make with them ON THE DROP OF A DIME.

{Umm, I don't really get that saying....HMMM. But that is correct context to use it in right??? :) }

KNORR'S CALDO DE TOMATE (bouillon with tomato)

This will add a "MEXICAN" kick of flavor to just about EVERYTHING (about $2)

KNORR'S CILANTRO SEASONING﻿

There is nothing like fresh herbs, but let's face it....You're prolly' not gonna' use the whole bunch of fresh cilantro before it goes bad.That's where this comes in.. PACKS HUGE FLAVOR IN A TEENY-WEENY LITTLE LIVING SPACE CUBE!(WINK,WINK THAT WAS AN ALADDIN REFERENCE, My FAVE movie when I was younger)

GROUND COMINO

This Puts "MEXICAN" in MEXICAN...
YOU NEED IT!!
SMOKEY EARTHY MEXICAN HEAVEN in a bottle.
Kinda sounds like the description for DOS EQUIS TOO :)

TOMATO SAUCE

Always keep these cans around! They're like 4 for a dollar!

REFRIED BLACK BEANS﻿

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I use Black Beans because they have less fat .. But you can use refried pinto beans which are more common..If you have beans there are ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES! Generic Brand is like less than 70cents.

﻿﻿

ROTEL(Green chiles and diced tomatoes)

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Add a LITTLE KICK without the chopping and dicing! This can makes it's way into E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!

﻿﻿﻿UMM..If you have all these items you can make something "mexican"Of course you need the other essentials like meat, rice, or tortillas..

This post is cut short due to a TINY TODDLER EXPRESSING HER READINESSTO TAKE A BATH...

This week I gave away the very first set of couches I got after college.
It was very bitter sweet :( I never realized it, but I was really attached to them.
They were SOOO cuddly and soft. I will definitely MISS them VERY MUCH!

Laundry Chic Wall ArtI have seen ONE or TWO Sunburst mirrors/decor around Bloglandia but this is the very first of this kind.How creative and chic! Another reason to look at everything lying around and Re-Analyze :)

Even this recipe is a ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES kinda post, but I figure since I made it 2 times this weekend and it was a HIT at boths PAR-TAAAAYSit is only appropriate that the WHOLE.WIDE.WORLD knows how to make it :)

Anywho...SERIOUSLY, THIS STUFF IS THE BIZ-ZOMB!And MAY I SAY this is not an original recipe by yours truly..

HeHe, did you miss the tiny line before this, I hope so.. J/KIt is my friend's sisters' sister-in-laws recipe.

I don't know what the name is but we'll call it,

"Pretty Much The World's Most Amazing Pasta Salad"

You will need:

1lb (Big Bag) Bowtie Pasta (Farfalle)

1 bottle of Zesty Italian Dressing

Shredded/Grated Parmesan Cheese

1 package of Turkey pepperonni's (halved)

Cherry tomato's (halved)

small can of chopped black olives

1 large cucumber (sliced)

{secret ingredient}Uncle Chris's Steak Seasoning

Directions:Prepare pasta as inctructed. Drain and run under cool water, drain again. In a large bowl combine all ingredients. Poor entire bottle of dressing in and salt and pepper to taste, liberally add Uncle Chris' steak Seasoning. {this is the Secret ingredient, ADD A GOOOOD AMOUNT}Stir everything together..

VOILA!!!! Refrigerateto allow all the flavors to blend and ABSORB!!

YOUR DISH WILL BE A HIT, PROMISE!! :) {I can say that cuz it's someone else's recipe, I aint braggin' on myself, ya know}Thank you Christina who bestowed this amazing recipe upon me! I love you! :)

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

First, I would like to apologize that I did not post this weeks Tickle My Fancy Tuesday.This work week has been LOOOOONNG and TOUGH.

I know it's only Wednesday!!

As I mentioned before I work with children, a Diabetes Prevention Program for youth....

At the beginning and the end of the school year PARTICIPATING CHILDREN are evaluated.We collect their Height, Weight, and Glucose levels by finger stick.We also analyze their meal consumption at both breakfast and lunch for 3 days straight......

At this time our COHORT is 3rd grade elementary students..{some years, middle school students, and sometimes Pre-k}

We have FIVE elementary schools and about 200 kids!!

Do the math, 200 kids, 2 times a day, 3 days straight = I don't know, one tired mommy that's runnin' around like crazy :)

So, WHAT TIME DO YOU DROP YOUR KID OFF AT SCHOOL?????

I have to be there 30 minutes before that!

Which can be 7am sometimes or 645 am!!!!!!! Umm, ya I think that's kinda early :)

O, and the schools ??? They are ALL ABOUT 30-40 minutes away, GOING ALL HIGWAY!!!During the year, INTERVENTION takes place, where we ACTIVELY TEACH, MODEL and SATURATE the students environment (school) with a HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CULTURE to make BEHAVIORAL CHANGES and thus making HEALTHIER KIDS!!???

{OH, AAAAAND my car got broken into last night and my camera got stolen......IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH 2 DAYS!!}

OOOO, and at the same time in between lunch and breakfast and after lunch we are helping out high schools, middle schools, and OTHER elementary schools finish their PHYSICAL EDUCATION TESTING..

You know, you remember?? The push ups, curl ups, and stretching tests...

YEAH, 2 people trying to complete 100 kids testing in about an hour....(We DO IT! We DID IT! We're PRO's NOW..sidenote:I think we need to License our method cuz no one is faster than us..hence why they call us "TO HELP!!!!" YUP, THAT IS A PAT ON OUR BACK :))

I just thought that y'all might enjoy reading and sharing the EXCITEMENT of my everyday life....Did I Mention that there IS.NO.TIME.TO.EVEN.EAT!!? :)

Anyway, as I have also MENTIONED BEFORE,

I.LOVE.MY.JOB!!!

We have currently been awarded an AMAZING GRANT that is making scientific news...

CHECK IT OUT, the story will be featured on CBS World News, ABC World News and local KSAT 12, KENS 5 and KMOL 4;it will also be featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA tomorrow morning 5/12/11.

{This technology is EXTREMELY important to the scientific and medical community, because the OBESITY epidemic is furiously spreading, and our children are AT RISK! The hopes we have with this technology is TO HELP people of all kinds... the limits are endless with this technology Right now, in its preliminary stages it is being used to help analyze what our study children are consuming, something we already did, but this tool is much more efficient...

[trying asking a third grader what they ate 3 days ago, or even if they ate candy this morning...]

So this technology, through pictures,

(UPDATE: TAKE PICTURES OF STUDENTS TRAY'S not the student, all info is confidential at analysis stage. The only people who know the identity of the child would be people like me coordinating the collection process. And believe me, I am not watching what your kid is eating when I have 50 other kids to make sure get collected)

will tell us what THE STUDENTS are consuming,

TOO MUCH SUGAR?TOO MUCH FAT?NOT ENOUGH VITAMINS?EVEN, NOT ENOUGH CALORIES??? (not enough calories will not allow your pancreas to metabolize sugar properly thus leading to problems as well)

The pictures will give a full nutritional analysis}

It already is being negatively portrayed as CALORIE COUNTING; in fact that is only a small amount of information being collected most importanly is the type and amount of NUTRIENTS being consumed.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Want something different? Want something your kids to love what you are going to make? Then try this....

"Doritos Bake" {A casserole of just throw all our favorite ingredients in together and bake it!!! YUM!!}

You will need:

Doritos or Generic Brand ( half a bag)

Can of Chili with or without beans (I use Turkey)

Sour Cream (4 oz.)

1 can of tomato sauce

1/4 onion (chopped)

2 Cups of cheese

Salt and Pepper

Optional: Dash of hot sauce if you'd like

Directions:Preheat oven to 350.Pour chili into large bowl. Combine tomato sauce, onions, and 1 cup of cheese in the bowl with the chili.Crush up all the Doritos into small pieces...

Add 1/2 the crushed Doritos to the bowl and mix all ingredients. Salt and pepper (optionally add hot sauce here) Poor into casserole dish.Bake for about 15 minutes til' the chili mixture is almost fully dried out. Take the dish out and layer the sour cream on top, as so...

Add the remaining crushed doritos to cover the top﻿..

Then add the rest of the cheese.

Stick back in the till cheese is melted and bubbly, about 10 minutes. Remove and let cool for a few minutes.

Uncooked version, before I could snap the hot and ready picture it was dug into :)